Portable dishwashing device



Aug. '19, 1947.

R. KRE B$ PORTABLE DISHWASHING DEVICE Filed June 14, 1945 device embodying the presentinvention;

Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES This invention relates to improvements in portable dishwashing devices, and more particularly to the smaller types of self-contained dishwashers capable of being utilized each as a self-contained unit, in or adjacent to a conventional kitchen sink, or other water supply source and drain.

For the most part the domestic dishwashing devices heretofore offered to the trade, have been characterized by substantial weight, bulk, mechanism and high initial cost. Usual and prevalent difiiculties include those incident to proper cleansing and sanitation; the necessity for permanent connection or attachment provisions for water supply, drain and electrical connections have further deterred general and widespread acceptance. It is accordingly a general objective of the present invention to obviate the difficulties stated, and to attain a light weight, self-contained, practicable dishwashing appliance designed primarily for, although not restricted to domestic kitchen use.

Other important objects of the invention are attained in an extreme simplicity of construction and low initial production and sales cost; a unit which need involve no more than a single moving tention or expense even through years of operation.

Yet another object of the invention is attained in a dishwashing appliance which is so designed 1 Glaim. (01. 134-1 97) 9 part, and which in preferred embodiment is of rugged construction, and requiring no service at- Yet another object, expressed more particularly in reference to advantages of usage, is attained in an improved design of domestic dishwasher such as to enable washing and rinsing of dishes, cooking utensils, tumblers and silverware without necessarily requiring any contact between the hands of the user and any of these articles, thereby enabling the use of very hot water, and with full choice of water softening and cleaning chemicals, washing powders or the like, without regard for adverse effects of these materials on the hands of the user.

The foregoing and numerous'other objectives will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment of the structure, particularly when the description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, inwhich: l

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of a dishwashing Fig. 2 is an. isometric view of the device of Fig. 1, the tank and contents of the dishwasher being sectioned in a vertical plane, indicated by line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and l i M Fig. 3 is a vertical-sectional elevation of the device as viewed along lined-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now by 'characters of reference to the drawing, the device as preferably embodied includes a tank which, according to preference, is of one-piece metal construction and which comprises side walls Ill and II, end walls I2 and 13, together with a bottom element I4. 1 In the form shown, the sides l0 and II are planar portions of equal area and the ends 12 and 13 are of like area but, as seen, somewhat smaller than the side walls. It is a preference for ease of cleaning, to round the corners in each of the zones where the sides and ends are joined, and

similarly in each of the cornering zones of connection of the bottom to the sides and ends, all as clearly appearsfrom the drawing in the internally concave corner arrangements [5 and 16.

It is a distinct preference so to proportion the tank or container that its height is-at least equal to its-greatest transverse dimension, in the present example, its width; After'exhaustive experiments, this proportioning has been found highly desirable to prevent overflow, spillage, and like elfects incident tothe dishwashing-operation later described. Thisadvantage is particularly apparent when itis realized that'with certain washing powders and other preparations, the depth of the container precludes any tendencyof the suds, due

to agitation of the liquid-to be carried over the upper margin of the tank. 1

It is contemplated of course that if desired, a suitable-cover (not shown) maybe provided for "the tank, althoughusually in domestic practice "a'cover is not necessary, The provision of any top "closure will of course include asuitable aperture or slot for the reception of a piston actuating rod'hereinafter described. 1 In'o'rdertofiassu're maximum rigidity consistem with no more than a reasonable weight of the tanklso as not to "impair its easy portability, it

-is preferred to provide along and coextensive with its upper margin, a beaded rim generallyindicatedat 295- 1 "Referringiiow to the arrangement of elements internally of the tank, and their construction, it will be noted that the tank is of a generally rectangular: shape inplam'but that as best appears from Figs, 1 andfZ, itis transversely bridged by apair of -vertical, substantially planar parallel partition elements ,2! and 22;-which maybe-but are not necessarily of identical construction. The two plate members 2| and 22 serve to form a displacement chamber therebetween, and are profusely apertured in a manner later described in more detail. The arrangement of partitions in the tank is, in the example shown, such that the displacement chamber divides the tank into a relatively large end compartment 23 and an opposite smaller end compartment 24, the displacement chamber generally indicated at 25 being of yet smaller volume and located between the end compartments. It may be noted that the partitions 2| and 22 may serve an additional purpose, as in the example shown, in that they constitute distance pieces, braces or bridges between the opposite side walls l and II of the tank, thus adding rigidity to the structure and overcoming any spreading or collapsing tendencies. The partition plates or elements 2| and 22 are conveniently welded in place as by fillet welds 26, or may be assembled by any other suitable securement expedient.

It is a preference, as making for greater ease and saving of time in handling the dishes in and out of the tank, to provide for each of the compartments 23 and 24, a reticulate container, such as a basket formed of sturdy wire construction, the basket 30 being of a form detachably to nest in the compartment 23 and being provided with handles 3| to facilitate its insertion in and removal from the compartment. Similarly, a basket 32 conforms with working clearance to the walls defining the compartment 24, and is provided with suitable lifting handles 33.

To facilitate drainage when the tank is operated on the usual sink drain board, or inserted in the sink, there is provided in the lower region of the tank, preferably in one end as shown, a drain valve indicated at 34, and provided with an actuating handle 35. The spout or discharge portion of the valve is preferably short in order that, when the tank rests on its bottom l4, the delivery end of spout 31 will nevertheless remain free of the subjacent supporting surface in order to obviate any tendency of the weight of the device to impair the seal of the unit 34 where it projects through the end wall l3.

In keeping with the simplicity and rugged character of the design throughout, and yet to provide for maximum displacement of the washing liquid incident to reasonable freedom of operation, the displacement agency is shown as consisting of a substantially rectangular piston 40, the length of which closely approximates, with reasonable working clearance, the inside width of the tank between the opposite side walls, and the width of the piston being selected as the distance between the partition plates 2| and 22 with only working tolerance. A piston-actuating rod 4| extends vertically from the center of the piston, and is surmounted by an actuating handle 42 shaped to facilitate manually gripping the opposite ends of this element and imparting thereto an up-and-down movement with a liquid agitation and displacement effect later described in more detail.

The manner of usage and operation of the dishwashing device as described, are thought to have been reasonably apparent from the foregoing description of its elements, their arrangement and the general assembly, It may, however, be noted for completeness that the dishes, utensils, pans, and the like are disposed in the wire baskets and arranged therein in the best positions to receive the jets issuing from the jet apertures or ports of the partition plates 2| and 22, as will be quickly determined after a short period of experience. The baskets and contents are inserted in the tank, which may then be filled to the desired water level, it being preferred to provide exteriorly of the tanks, say on the end |3 thereof, a water level indicating line 43. The water may be as hot as desired since it is not necessary for the hands of the user to be placed therein, and to the water may be added a suitable washing powder or a combined water-softening and cleansing agent, the necessity for which will of course be indicated by the degree of hardness of the water source.

It will usually be advisable to utilize the larger basket 30 in compartment 23, for larger pots, pans, etc. and in a separate operation if necessary, to utilize this same container and compartment for the larger dishes, dinner plates, etc. Similarly, the smaller compartment 24 and basket 32 therein, are more advantageously utilized for tumblers, silverware, and smaller articles of queensware and the like. With the dishes, utensils or other articles in place in the basket and partly or completely submerged in the washing liquid, the piston 40 is given a reciprocal movement by means of handle 42 and rod 4|. Upon each upward stroke of the piston 40, a dual effect is noted: An inward movement of the liquid will occur through the ports or openings instantly below the piston, and particularly through a pair of somewhat larger bottom ports 44 in each partition, which may be referred to as intake ports, although obviously the liquid will find entrance through the remaining ports which may be of uniform size and shape, not necessarily circular, and which are indicated at 45. Simultaneously, there will be a marked displacement effect by the upper face of the piston which then delivers considerable liquid outwardly through the ports or openings currently above the piston, thence into each of the end compartments 23 and 24. By the time the piston 40 reaches the upper limit of its movement, as determined by a pair of end stops 46, that part of the displacement chamber below the piston will have become filled or substantially so, with the liquid.

It may be here noted that the stops 46 may be formed in any suitable manner, as by projecting elements welded interiorly cf the side walls of the tank, or bolted thereto to facilitate removal of piston for cleaning. The piston may be removed by tilting it endwise, so that it will clear the stops.

It may here be noted as a preference in the arrangement and pattern of the openings 45 in the partition elements 2| and 22, that these be arranged in vertical rows (best shown by Fig. 3), and equally spaced in each row, but with the openings of each row vertically staggered in respect to comparable opening of each adjacent row. Furthermore, the vertical spacing between comparable ports 45 of adjacent rows is advantageously such that when dinner plates of average depth are vertically stacked, say in the compartment 23, the jets issuing from the ports 45 and directed substantially horizontally into the end compartments, will engage the surfaces of successive plates. It will further be noted that the horizontal spacing of the vertical rows of the ports 45 is about the same as the vertical spacing of ports in each row so that virtually the same effect may be attained even though the plates be stacked on edge as shown in Fig, 2. For convenience of manufacture, the same arrangement of ports has been adopted in both partition plates 2! and 252.

It will now have become obvious that upon the opposite or downward movement of the piston t0, the washing water or solution will be violently expelled through all ports instantly below the piston, and will be driven in a generally horizontal plane, into contact with the various dishes and utensils in both compartments. At the same time, water will enter above the piston with the effect heretofore described on its return movement.

It will now have become obvious that substantial stream will be expelled through the ports i l along the bottom and generally lengthwise of the tank. Particularly as to these major streams, it will be noted that the rounded cornering heretofore described, and now particularly pointed out in the zones of juncture of ends it and it, with bottom it, plays, a distinctly functional part, these cornering zones being indicated at 50. The streams or jets issuing through opening M will, upon engaging the concavely rounded zones til internally f the tank, be deflected upwardly and, somewhat by deflection or rebound, will be reversed and move reentrantly of the compartments 23 and 2%, with obvious advantage in cleansing the utensils, dishes or the like in the compartments.

Upon completion of the washing operation proper, either of two procedures may be followed: The valved drain connection 3' may be opened and the now-used soapy liquid drawn from the tank, and a stream of water may be introduced as by a spray if desired, through the top of the tank onto the dishes and at a temperature such that they will drain dry in situ. Alternately, the baskets ill] and 32 may be lifted from the tank, deposited in the sink or on another drain board and sprayed or otherwise rinsed and allowed to dry.

It will have appeared that the device described serves fully to attain each and all of the objectives expressly stated hereinabove, and others implied from the description of parts and advantages of their arrangement. Although the invention has been explained by minute reference to a presently preferred embodiment, the detail of description is to be understood solely in an instructive sense, and not as restrictive, numerous changes being possible within the full intended spirit and scope of the claim hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

In a portable dishwasher, a substantially rectangular tank formed by side wall, end wall and bottom elements, and characterized by rounded cornering throughout, the tank including a pair or parallel spaced transverse partition elements profusely apertured, and with the apertures thereof arranged, in a pattern such that water ejected through the apertures is expelled in jets in substantially horizontal planes, the apertures of the partition further includin water intake ports in their lowermost regions which open along the bottom element of the tank and. are considerably larger than the apertures thereabove, the partitions being arranged with respect to the end walls of the tank so as to form a relatively large compartment at one end of the tank, a somewhat smaller compartment at the opposite end of the tank, and a smallest compartment serving as a displacement chamber in a generally intermediate zone of the tank and between the apertin'ed partitions, the smallest compartment being of a length substantially the full inside width of the tank, a piston of substantially rectangular horizontal shape and coextensive in plan with the displacement chamber, arranged to operate vertically therein, a stop lug for limiting upward piston movement, carried by a side wall element, and an actuating rod carried by the piston.

ROLAND KREBS.

REFERENCES Ci'llEB The following references are or" record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,140,561 Baer May 25, 1915 973,212 Richardson Oct. 18, 1910 937,937 Hauberg Oct. 26, 1909 

